Korea Sees Highest Number of Deaths Last Year

Some 298,900 people died in Korea last year, the highest figure since 1983, when related statistics were first compiled.

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An average of 819 people died each day -- 36 higher than the previous year.

People aged over 80 accounted for nearly half of all deaths last year. The mortality rate due to diseases of old age, such as Alzheimer's and pneumonia, skyrocketed in 2018, with Alzheimer's among the top 10 leading causes of death for the first time.

Cancer, heart disease and pneumonia were the top three causes of death.

Liver cancer was the leading cause of death for people in their 40s and 50s, while lung cancer was the leading cause for those in their 60s and older. Suicide was the leading cause of death for those in their teens to 30s.